Sprinter Antoinette van der Merwe has joined the growing list of South African record breakers on the international indoor circuit this season, cracking the national women's short track 60m hurdles mark.

Competing in Boston over the weekend, Van der Merwe clocked 8.10 seconds to set a new SA short track record in the sprint event over the barriers.

She also took 0.13 off her personal best of 8.23 which she set in Louisville last season.

Van der Merwe joined a handful of other SA athletes who had already shattered national short track records this year.

They included Adriaan Wildschuut, who broke his own national 5 000m mark when he clocked 12:56.76 in Boston, as well as versatile thrower Mine de Klerk who set a new SA women's indoor shot put record of 17.79m in Nebraska, and sprinter Shaun Maswanganyi who set a men's 200m record of 20.41 seconds in Texas last week.

Over the 1 500m distance, Ryan Mphahlele stopped the clock at 3:36.57 in France earlier this month and Tshepo Tshite went even quicker in Poland four days later, lowering the record to 3:35.06.

Mphahlele and Tshite will compete at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow this weekend.

The two middle-distance runners were announced in the ASA team on Monday  which left on Tuesday evening (tonight) for the global showpiece, along with Taylon Bieldt who will participate in the 60m hurdles event.

James Moloi, the President of Athletics South Africa said: "Antoinette has done well for herself and can take this performance to heart. It's a tremendous effort that she can be proud of as it gives her the confidence to know she can do even better. We congratulate her, coach and support staff for the achievement.

"In the same breadth we wish our national team safe travel and good competition atvthe indoors knowing that they have been looking forward to this day."

* All ASA records are subject to standard ratification processes

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About Athletics South Africa:
Athletics South Africa (ASA) is the national governing body for the sport of athletics (including Track and Field, Cross Country, Road Running and Race Walking) in South Africa, is a member of World Athletics  and the Confederation of African Athletics.  The association was formed in 1995 and is based in Johannesburg. 

ENDS